Concentration of Antifouling Biocides and Metals in Sediment Core Samples in the Northern Part of Hiroshima Bay

Accumulation of Ot alternative antifoulants in sediment is the focus of this research. Much research had been done on surface sediment, but in this report, the accumulation in the sediment core was studied. The Ot alternative antifoulants, Diuron, Sea-Nine211, and Irgarol 1051, and the latter’s degradation product, M1, were investigated in five samples from the northern part of Hiroshima Bay. Ot compounds (tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT)) were also investigated for comparison. In addition, metal (Pb, Cu, Zn, Fe and Mn) levels and chronology were measured to better understand what happens after accumulation on the sea floor. It was discovered that Ot alternative antifoulant accumulation characteristics in sediment were like Ot compounds, with the concentration in the sediment core being much higher than surface sediment. The concentration in sediment seems to have been affected by the regulation of Ot compounds in 1990, due to the concentration of Ot alternative antifoulants and Ot compounds at the survey point in front of the dock, showing an increase from almost the same layer after the regulation.     

Features of a control blade degradation observed in situ during severe accident conditions in boiling water reactors

In the present paper, new results using in situ video are presented regarding boiling water reactor (BWR) control blade degradation up to 1750 K at the beginning of a nuclear severe accident. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) mapping indicated stratification of the absorber blade melt with formation of a chromium and boride-enriched layer. High-content-B- and C-containing material with increased melting temperature acted like a shielding and was found to prevent further relocation of control blade claddings. The interacted layers around the B₄C-granules prevented direct steam attack of residual B₄C. The results provide new insights for understanding of the absorber blade degradation mechanism under reducing conditions specific to Fukushima Dai-Ichi Unit 2 resulting from prolonged steam starvation.     

Stone-Wales Rearrangement Pathways from the Hinge-Opened [2+2] C60 Dimer to Ipr C120 Fullerenes. Vibrational Analysis of Intermediates

Abstract

Possibility of the previously proposed hinge-opened product 2 of [2+2] C₆₀, dimer 1 transforming itself into IPR C₁₂₀ fullerenes by a series of generalized Stone-Wales (GSW) rearrangements has been tested by seeking all topologically acceptable pathways with the help of a graphical search program. the first IPR isomer 4 appeared after 20 GSW steps from the wide-bridged dumb-bell shaped precursor 3. More than 1,000 C₁₂₀ fullerene structures were generated during subsequent ten GSW steps, but the outstanding T _d C₁₂₀ global minimum 5 was not reached. Semiempirical vibrational calculations predict characteristic transition in the vibrational spectra in the course of rearrangement pathway.     

A three-dimensional microfluidic tumor cell migration assay to screen the effect of anti-migratory drugs and interstitial flow

Most anti-cancer drug screening assays are currently performed in two dimensions, on flat, rigid surfaces. However, there are increasing indications that three-dimensional (3D) platforms provide a more realistic setting to investigate accurate morphology, growth, and sensitivity of tumor cells to chemical factors. Moreover, interstitial flow plays a pivotal role in tumor growth. Here, we present a microfluidic 3D platform to investigate behaviors of tumor cells in flow conditions with anti-migratory compounds. Our results show that interstitial flow and its direction have significant impact on migration and growth of hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines such as HepG2 and HLE. In particular, HepG2/HLE cells tend to migrate against interstitial flow, and their growth increases in interstitial flow conditions regardless of the flow direction. Furthermore, this migratory activity of HepG2 cells is enhanced when they are co-cultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We also found that migration activity of HepG2 cells attenuates under hypoxic conditions. In addition, the effect of Artemisinin, an anti-migratory compound, on HepG2 cells was quantitatively analyzed. The microfluidic 3D platform described here is useful to investigate more accurately the effect of anti-migratory drugs on tumor cells and the critical influence of interstitial flow than 2D culture models.     

Piezoelectric cable macro‐fiber composites for use in energy harvesting

Piezoelectric cable is a commercial electronic sensor that incorporates the piezoelectric polymer polyvinylidene fluoride. This paper investigated a potential application of piezoelectric cable for energy harvesting. A method for testing the electrical output using the tensile load was developed and used to determine the output properties of the cable. A design for a piezoelectric cable fiber composite is presented, along with recommendations for potential applications and further research. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Plastic behaviours during tempering by crystal plasticity analyses using fast Fourier transform

ABSTRACT

Heat treatment, such as quenching and carburising, often involves volume change caused by phenomena such as thermal expansion, phase transformation, and carbide precipitation during tempering. During the tempering process, an external force induces additional plastic deformation. The authors termed this phenomenon ‘tempering plasticity’. In this study, we performed crystal plasticity analysis using fast Fourier transform considering the volume change in carbides to assess the mechanism of tempering plasticity. As a result, tempering plastic strain occurred as the volume fraction of carbide increased, and the tempering plastic phenomenon could be reproduced based on the transformation model proposed by Greenwood–Johnson. The result supports the idea that the volume change accompanied by carbide precipitation is an important mechanism that invokes tempering plasticity.